Indian Karnataka cultural festival to be staged today

Over 30 performers, all the way from Karnataka, India  will perform at the University of Visual and Performing Arts auditorium today (August 25) in what would be Sri Lanka’s first Karnataka cultural festival.
The performances include aesthetic, traditional and folk dances, songs, multi lingual poems, ballet and puppet shows. This festival is organize by the International Cultural Council of India, the M. E. Global Peace Foundation in collaboration with the Swami Vivekananda Indian Cultural Centre based in Colombo, state ministry of higher education and the University of Performing and Visual Arts along with the Asian Media and Cultural Association and PEN Sri Lanka. 

On August 25, Sri Lankan audiences will witness the 40th edition in a series of cultural shows organized by the ICFCI which are being staged globally. “The main highlight would be the performances of Karnataka origin,” said ICFCI President K. P. Manjunath Sagar.
A prominent Karnataka dancer Madhuri Bondre and her troupe too will perform at this festival. 
A dance form of the Yaksha tribe will be performed by Shreyas Ravi Hegde. Another breathtaking performance will be staged by Guru Dr.Jaya shree, Ravi Hegde and Shruthi Ashish. A couple of folk songs will be performed by Prof.Bindiganavele Bhagavan and Dr.Archana Alhani. Adding more glamour to the festival would be a puppet show by Yashoda Ranga Puthali. Apart from that Venkatesh Moorthi Shiroor, Gona Swami, Pushpa Aradhya and Manthesh Mamadapura will also entertain the audience with their songs.

The event will commence at 4.00pm and will be graced by the presence of Minister of Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickramanayaka, State Minister of Higher Education Dr. Suren Raghavan, Dean of the University of Performing and Visual Arts Prof. Rohana P. Mahaliyanarachchi and Prof. Amila Kankanamge. Entrance to the show is free-of-charge and anybody with a passion for arts and culture are invited to witness this vibrant cultural festival.